Afternoon News Rundown

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Lawmakers have chosen a one-time legislative staffer to be the Louisiana Legislature's top budget adviser.

John Carpenter was named Wednesday to be interim legislative fiscal officer by a joint House and Senate budget committee, while legislative leaders seek applications from contenders to fill the position permanently.

Carpenter worked for the state House of Representatives for more than 25 years. He also spent a year with Gov. Bobby Jindal's Division of Administration. Most recently, Carpenter was chief administrative officer for the mayor of Baton Rouge, Kip Holden, a former lawmaker.

Senate President John Alario said Carpenter "comes with a great deal of qualifications, both in the executive and legislative branch."

Carpenter replaces Gordon Monk, who retired earlier this month.

Senators voted 16-0 for Carpenter's hiring, while House members voted 21-3.

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The sign-up period for the Nov. 6 election runs through Friday. The candidates who have qualified are:

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The city of New Orleans and the federal government want to limit the role of various groups that hope to help shape federally enforced reforms in the scandal-plagued New Orleans Police Department.

An agreement was announced last month that would settle a Justice Department complaint against the city. But it requires approval of a federal judge, who is to hold a hearing on Aug. 29.

New Orleans' independent police monitor, a community group called Community United for Change and two police officer associations have asked to be added to the case as intervening parties. Lawyers for the city and the Justice Department say anyone can file comments with the federal court, but allowing anyone else to formally intervene in the case could result in unnecessary delays.